UCAP Accra congress: 150 Delegates, 30 nations address AI, human values
From August 10 to 17, 2025, Accra will host the triennial Congress of the Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP).
On the theme: “Balancing technological progress and the preservation of human values in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”, the meeting will unite 150 delegates, representing 30 countries, of journalists, academic researchers, ecclesiastical communicators, tech leaders, NGO actors, Vatican envoys and government representatives.
UCAP is a pan-African, independent catholic media association, committed to advancing professionalism, solidarity, freedom of expression and ethical discourse across media.
Why Accra?
Ghana is more than a host; it’s a symbol. Nestled on the Gulf of Guinea, the country embodies a vibrant harmony of tradition and innovation, a story told in its kaleidoscope of ethnic groups, coastal breezes and rhythmic cultural festivals.
Accra, in particular, has surged as a cosmopolitan hub — a city shaping digital entrepreneurship alongside its colonial landmarks, bustling markets and thriving arts scene — an apt reflection of our congress theme.
Rigorous deliberations on the theme
Over eight days (August 10–17), delegates will engage in cutting-edge discourse through plenary sessions, workshops, panels and collaborative strategy meetings.
Sub themes include corporate social responsibility in AI deployment; eco-friendly start-ups powered by AI: risks and possibilities; distortions and reprogramming of social reality in social/digital media; pathways to developing digital well-being; ecological education & sustainable resource stewardship; and the media’s role in promoting synodality within the african church.
The congress aims to train 150 media practitioners in the ethical and human-centred use of AI.
Our outcomes include a strategic action plan for governments, corporations and civil society; a robust agenda for media discourse on AI’s societal impact, frameworks for ecological education and media literacy across national UCAP branches, post-congress monitoring through member media reports and regional refresher programmes.
Conference, culture
While delegates tackle pressing media tech issues, Accra invites them to immerse themselves in Ghana’s rich heritage, including the Kakum National Park’s iconic canopy walkway, the solemnity of Cape Coast & Elmina Castles and their “Door of No Return”, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum — a tribute to Pan-African vision, the Accra’s Arts Centre — a vibrant marketplace for crafts, Kente, beads and wood carvings and the beachside relaxation at Labadi, as well as cultural exchanges at Homowo, Aboakyer festivals, and lively urban markets.
As delegates reflect on AI and ethics, these sites offer cultural depth and renewal — an embodiment of UCAP’s twin goals of technological insight and human empathy.
Organising committee
The congress committee, chaired by Victoria Lugey and Sir Ben Assorow, is a blend of local and continental expertise.
It includes UCAP President, Charles Ayetan, CAMP G President Stephen Asante, academics, such as, Prof. Ben Nnamdi Emenyeonu and Dr Anthony Bonnah-Koomson, and other journalistsand Catholic clergy, represented by Fr Rex Vegbey and Fr Dieu Donne Davor.
With 150 delegates from 30 countries converging on Accra, this UCAP congress is more than a conference — it is a continental movement.
It calls us to shape technology with human values and to amplify media as a vessel for justice, unity, transparency, ecological care and dignity.
The writer is a member of the Organising Committee.
